Udupi, Jan 11: “There are several attractive places in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. There are opportunities to develop tourism there by enabling tourists to see those places through helicopter. Udupi should be made centre of heli-tourism among the three districts,” said Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat.

He was speaking in three-day long Heli tourism programme that began in Adi Udupi Helipad on Friday. “A large number of tourists arrive in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts. Therefore, there is scope for developing heli-tourism,” he said.

Heli tourism organizer Sudesh Shetty said that heli-tourism will be held from January 11 to January 13. “It consists of three packages made up of 8 minutes ordinary flight, ten minute long adventure flight and thirteen minute long flight. Those who are interested can get their names registered by calling up 9741248716 or 9741249238. There is also provision for spot booking near Adi helipad. Six people can fly at a time. Children below two years are allowed free of cost. It is the fourth year of such tourism. There was good support from people every time,” he said.

Bengaluru’s Chipson aviation company’s pilot Ramesh Bhoominath said that people should get experience of flying in a helicopter.